Subculture

What is a subculture?

'A group that has beliefs and behaviors that are different from the main groups within a culture or society' Merriam-Webster Dictionary

'The way of ​life, ​customs, and ​ideas of a ​particular ​group of ​people within a ​society that are different from the ​rest of that ​society' Cambridge Dictionary

One of the countries with more types of subculture is Japan. One of them is the Lolita style.

Lolita is a street fashion primarily inspired by the Rococo and Victorian periods fashion. Lolita started in Japan in the 1980’s and has evolved since. Nowadays Lolita has grown to be popular all over the world.  The different types are :

• Aristocrat

      This style is a lot more mature than lolita in general. It has a lot in common with the western ‘Romantic Gothic’.

 

• Casual Lolita

      A more toned down version of the style, while still retaining the basic lolita elements.

 

• Classic Lolita

      The tamest of all the Lolita styles as many Classic dresses could pass for a garden party, church or summer dress.

 

• Cosplay Lolita

      Also known as  ‘Costume Lolita,’ is not a subset of Lolita fashion, but it is still important to know the difference between Cosplay Lolita and the actual fashion.

 

• Country Lolita

      It is derived from the Sweet Lolita, and is often a little hard to distinguish due to the use of the same sweet patterns, but the Country Lolita can be recognized by straw baskets, hats, fruit, and gingham patterns.

• Ero Lolita 

      Although it does sound that it may be a little less modest, and a little more tongue-in-cheek this style does not involve suddenly being naked, and wearing only an Alice-bow. It contains more fetish elements such as leather, collars, and corsets that one may not be able to pull-off in any other Lolita style maintaining at the same time a fair amount of modesty. Skirts may be a little shorter than usual, but nothing overly provocative.

 

• Gothic Lolita  

     This outfit like all Lolita, is very modest in today’s standards, it can usually be recognized by the bell-shaped skirt, and puff-sleeves. It is usually comprised of black or rich dark colors such as burgundy, purple and navy. It is common for this style to involve details in complementary or contrasting colors, such as black and white.

 

• Guro Lolita

      Also known as ‘Gore Lolita’ is exactly like the name sounds, gory. How much gory is always up to you, and can range from anything to some bandages, a sling, or some blood splatters on your clothing. It is a style that tries to portray a ‘broken-dolly’ sort of look, a gruesome yet innocent sub-set of Lolita.

• Hime Lolita 

     Also known as  ‘Princess Lolita,’ is a very elegant style of lolita that often involves miniature crowns, tiaras, and extravagant or large hair, and dresses. Because it does reflect a sense of royalty, and class, it is hard to pull this style off unless you are very well preened, and have done your best to look ‘Princess-like.’

 

• Kodona 

      It is often called “boy style” because it involves more masculine clothing. In Japan they usually use Ouji (prince) and not Kodona, that is a western term.

This style can be either laid back or very extravagant. The people who wears this style are actually women and not men, but both can dress it. The men sometimes refer to themselves as ‘Dandy’. Sometimes this style has feminine touches, such as more feminine shoes and accessories.

 

• Kuro Lolita 

    Also known as  ‘Black Lolita,’ is an outfit made-up of co-ordinates of one colour, in this case; black.

 

• Punk Lolita 

      It is perhaps one of the most challenging styles of Lolita to pull-off, because it takes someone with a lot of knowledge of Lolita fashion to be able to fuse the image of a Lolita with that of the Eastern punk style.

 

• Sailor Lolita 

     It is a very nautical-themed style of Lolita that is very much inspired by Japanese Sailor-styled uniforms.

 

• Shiro Lolita 

    Also knoen as ‘White Lolita,’ is an outfit made entirely of white/cream/off-white co-ordinates. They often pair themselves with Kuro Lolitas in twin outfits to create an interesting contrast.

 

• Sweet Lolita 

     It is the most over-the-top style and includes aesthetics nearly exclusive to lolita. It is also the most child-like of the lolita styles, using many bows, ruffles and light colors to make up an outfit. The most common colors used in it are pink, white, and powder blue, but an outfit can be made with nearly any pastel or plaid color.

 

• Wa Lolita 

     It is a style that is often recognized by the Kimono-esque look of the outfits, and is for those who may love to get in-touch with the country that brought the Lolita fashion.